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2024 HOA IA: OPCVL

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OPCVL

Words to use when writing and OPCVL

OPCVL Sample Paragraph

OPCVL Paragraph EXAMPLE:

Johnston, Donnie. "Ethanol Takes Food from the Hungry to Use as Fuel." Energy Alternatives, edited by David Haugen and Susan Musser, Greenhaven Press, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010220277/OVIC?u=spri48590_e&xid=12001f0a. Accessed 2 May 2017. Originally published as "Food or Fuel? A Hungry World Awaits U.S. Answer," Free Lance-Star,  Accessed 16 May 2008.

This is an excerpt of an article written by Donnie Johnston who is a newspaper reporter. It was reprinted in the book Energy Alternatives, and then made available in the online database Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context. His purpose in writing is to prove that the production of corn ethanol has affected the food supply and could have devastating consequences. This article discusses the rise in corn prices due to ethanol production and the need to need to use oil to produce ethanol.  It also discusses the moral issues involved with the choice to produce ethanol. The author does not provide both sides of the argument and he focuses on the morality of the issue.  However, he does provide specific examples and statistics to support his view.

Origin    Purpose    Content    Value     Limitation

Annotated bibliography

Purdue OWL

OPCVL Guidance

Origin:

  • What is it? (Book?  Article? Speech?)
  • Who is the author and what is the level of his/her expertise?
  • When was this document/writing created?

Purpose:  

  • Why was this written? (To explain…)
  • Who is the intended audience?  (Supporters? Opponents? General Audience?)
  • What is the author’s motivation for writing? (Inform? Persuade?)

Content:

  • What information does the source provide?
  • What is the tone of the source?
  • What information/examples are used to support their point?
Remember: Values & limitations are found in the Origin, Purpose, and Content

Value:  (you do NOT have to cover all of these in your explanation)

  • Does the author have any special qualifications to testify about or interpret the issue/theory/event?
  • Is this an authentic document that has not been changed from its original form?
  • Are references and evidence in the writing well documented?
  • Is this writing “a product of its times?” Look at the date it was created.  What else was going on at that time? (Context!)
  • Is there insightful analysis or is it just an overview?  
  • What is the scope of the document? Year/Years?  Decades? 100+ years? (bigger the scope--- probably less value because it is less detailed)

Limitation:  (you do NOT have to cover all of these in your explanation)

  • Was the author personally involved in the event?
  • Is the account biased?  WHY?
  • Does the account express only one point of view?  Whose voice is missing?
  • Is this writing “a product of its times?” Look at the date it was created.  What else was going on at that time? (Context!)
  • What is this source lacking?  
  • Was the source intended for an audience?  Persuasion? Exaggeration? Propaganda?